Rail end grinder



Jan. 13, 1959 Filed Dec. 17, 1954 O. A. CLARKE ET AL RAIL END GRINDER 3 Sheets-Sheet 1 p INVENTORS 0770 4. cum E 244 Pl! 4 a/ckso/v 77/56? ATTORNEY Jan. 13, 1959 Q jL An E ET AL RAIL END GRINDER Filed Dec. 1'7, 1954 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTORS 0770 A. CZAQAE BY @llPl/IV- 0/6/(60/1/ 77/672 ATTOQ/VEV Jan. 13, 1959 CLARKE ETAL 2,867,951

RAIL END GRINDER Filed Dec. 1'7, 1954 5 Sheets-Sheet 3 mmvrox: 0770 4. c4 ARA/E 4 4 040/ w. axe/(501v H Hy United States Patent Ofiice 2,867,951 Patented Jan. 13, 1959 RAIL END GRINDER Otto A. Clarke and Ralph W. Dickson, Gary, Ind., assrgnors to United States Steel Corporation, a corporation of New Jersey Application December 17, 1954, Serial No. 475,928 6 Claims. (CI. 51-56) This invention relates to a grinding apparatus for squaring the ends of railroad rails and, more particularly, to an apparatus for operation with a conventional rail drill press which will square the end of a rail by grinding While it is being drilled.

In the manufacture of railroad rails, the use of hot saws to cut a rolled length of rail frequently produces rails having ends which are off-square by an amount greater than the permitted tolerance. To remove this condition, a manual grinding operation is commonly employed. While milling machines have been proposed for this purpose, cost and other factors incident to such proposals have resulted in a continuance of hand grinding.

One of the principal objects of this invention is to provide an apparatus for grinding the ends of railroad rails to remove off-square conditions and which will eliminate the manual labor required by conventional grinding and end finishing operations.

A further object of the invention is to provide an end grinding and squaring apparatus which may be conven ently operated as an adjunct of a rail drilling machine during the same interval of time required for drilling. Another object is to provide an end grinder for finishing railroad rail ends which comprises a rotating grinding wheel mounted for reciprocating movement in a direction transversely of its axis and for movement axially toward the rail in such manner that each of its reciprocating cycles is effective to impart a grinding cut to the end of a rail. Relative to this object, another feature of this mvention involves the provision of a system for controlling the axial cutting movement of the grinding wheel from a retracted position in such manner that it is moved at a relatively high rate of speed toward its point of initial cutting engagement with the rail end and then at a relatively slower rate of speed while the rail end cutting operation is being effected, this system further providing for return movement of the grinding wheel at a relatively high rate of speed upon completion of its grinding or cutting operation. In a manner to be described, the cutting movement of the grinding wheel is effected in a step-by-step manner with' the grinding wheel being moved forwardly a small amount at the end of each of its cycles of reciprocating movement.

A still further object of the invention is to provide a stop which positions the rails for work thereon by both the drilling and end finishing or squaring mechanisms. To this end, a stop in the path of endways movement of a rail over a conveyor to the rail drilling machine is provided for engagement with the end of the rail to stop its movement in a predetermined position with respect to both the rail drilling and end grinding apparatus. In addition, a retractible mounting is provided for the stop so that it may be moved out of the path of reciprocating movement of the grinding wheel after it has performed its rail positioning function.

Other objects and advantages of the invention will be apparent from the following description.

In the drawings there is shown a preferred embodiment of the invention. In this showing:

Figure 1 is a diagrammatic and fragmentary side elevational view of a rail drill press and a rail delivering conveyor showing the application thereto of a grinding apparatus and rail positioning stop constructed in accordance with the principles of this invention;

Figure 2 is an end elevation of the grinding apparatus shown in Figure 1;

Figure 3 is an exploded perspective view of a driving mechanism for moving the grinder relative to its supporting carriage;

Figure 4 is an enlarged perspective view showing the rail stop of this invention and its mounting on the rail drill press;

Figure 5 is a sectional view taken along the line V-V of Figure 1;

Figure 6 is a fragmentary sectional end elevational view taken along the line VIVI of Figure 1;

Figure 7 is a wiring diagram illustrating schematically the components of the electrical system controlling the movement of the grinding apparatus;

Figure 8 is a wiring diagram for the reversible motor used in the carriage drive shown in Figure 3; and

Figure 9 is a fragmentary view showing the mounting of the reversing valve controlling the reciprocating motion of the grinding wheel carriage and of the operating mechanism therefor.

In Figure l of the drawings, the rolls of a conveyor for delivering a rail 1 endways to a position supported on the table or bed 2 of a rail end drill press are illustrated diagrammatically in dotted lines and designated respectively by the numerals 3. The drill press is one of conventional construction and has three drills 4 which are mounted for vertical movement to drill openings in the ends of a rail. A clamp 5 is provided for clamping the end of a rail against movement with respect to the drill bed 2 while being drilled by the drills 4. A stop 7 having a normal position, as shown in the drawings, in the path of movement of a rail over the conveyor rolls 3 is provided for engagement with its end to stop it in a predetermined position relative to the drills 4. The parts of the apparatus thus far described are conventional and form no part per se of this invention.

In accordance with this invention, the top 7 is mounted on a supporting block 8 for movement out of engagement with the end of the rail 1 and out of the path of movement of a grinding wheel 9 which is reciprocated across the end of the rail in a manner to be described, the block 8 being pivotally mounted on a pin 10 extending transversely of a recess 11 in the bed 2. The stop 7 is secured to one end of a shaft 12 which has a threaded engagement in the block 8 for adjusting the position in which it stops the movement of the rail 1. A handle 13 is provided for pivoting the block 8 from its vertical position as shown in Figure 1 to a horizontal position disengaged from the end of the rail and out of the path of reciproeating movement of the grinding wheel 9.

The grinding wheel 9 is mounted with its axis extending parallel to the rail to be ground thereby so that its axial end face 15 will have grinding engagement with the end of the rail 1 when it is reciprocated and moved toward the rail 1 in a manner to be described. The wheel 9 has a guard 16 and is driven by an electric motor 17. While the wheel 9 is shown as being comprised of abrasive grinding elements mounted in a chuck 18 driven by the motor 17, it will be understood that abrasive wheels formed of a single piece of abrasive mounted on the end of the motor drive shaft of the motor 17 are contemplated.

The motor 17 and grinding wheel 9 are mounted by carriages 20 and 21 for movement both toward the rail 1 and reciprocation along a path extending transversely of its. end. As best shown in FigureZ, the motor 17 has its base 22 bolted to the carriage which has runners 23 mounting it for sliding movement on laterally spaced rails 24 extending transversely of the path of reciprocating movement of the carriage 21., Sliding movement of the runners 23 on the rails 24- iseffective to move the motor 17 and grinding wheel 9 in an axial direction toward and away from the end of the rail 1 on the table 2. The carriage 21 has longitudinally extending runners 25 (see Figure l) mounting it for rectilinear sliding movement on stationary rails 26 secured to a stationary support 27, the rails 26 extending and being effective to guide the movement of the carriage 21 in a direction normal to and transversely of the end of the rail 1.

Reciprocation of the carriage 21 is effected by a conventional fluid pressure motor 30 comprising an hydraulic or air cylinder mounted on the base 27. The motor 30 has a piston (not shown) for operating a piston rod 31 which has: a pivotal connection 32 at its outer end to a bracket 33 depending from the carriage 20. A conventional reversing valve 34 for reversing the fluid connections (not shown) to the ends of the motor 38 is mounted on the support 27 and. has a pair of operating lugs 35 respectively in the path of movement of a pair of spaced dogs 36 mounted on a rail 37 secured to the runner 25 of the carriage 21. At each end of the path of reciprocating movement of the carriage 21, one of the dogs 36 engages one of the valve lugs 35 to operate the reversing valve 34 to reverse the operation of the motor 30 and the direction of movement of the carriage 21. The dogs 36 have adjustable connections with the rail 37' so that the length of path of reciprocating movement of the carriage 21 may be adjusted.

The carriage 20 has a depending lug 40 rigidly secured thereto by which it is moved on its supporting rails 24 toward and away from the drill press 2 to control the grinding cut of the wheel 9 on the end of a rail 1. As best shown in Figure 3, the lug 40 has an opening 41 in which an internally threaded sleeve or nut 42 is received for rotation therein. The sleeve 42 is held against axial movement in the opening 41 by a flange 43 at one end and a collar 44 secured to its other end by set screws (not shown). The flange 43 has a worm gear on its periphery which meshes with a worm pinion 45 driven by a motor 46, the motor 46 having a base 47 by which it is secured to the carriage 20 for movement therewith. As shown in Figure 8, the motor 46 is a reversing motor having reversing circuit connections, which are respectively made upon closure of contacts 48 and 49, the contacts 48 and 49 being closed by an electrical control system to be referred to.

A slower movement of the carriage 20 on its supporting rails 21 is effected by a screw shaft 50 which is rotatably supported on the carriage 21 and has threaded engagement in the nut 42. A hand wheel 51 on the end of shaft 50 is rotated to adjust the position of the carriage 20 on the carriage 21. Rotation of the shaft 50 by the wheel 51 is effective through the nut 42 to move the grinding wheel 9 in an axial direction toward or away from the rail on the drill press bed 2 depending upon its direction of rotation. In a similar manner, rotation of the nut 42 through its gear drive to the motor 46 is effective to move the carriage 20 toward or away from the drill bed 2 depending upon its direction of rotation.

In addition, the shaft 50 is adapted to be rotated in a step-by-step manner in response to reciprocation of the carriage 21. This is effected by a ratchet wheel 55 keyed to the shaft 50 and a ratchet pawl 56 pivotally mounted on a lever 57 having a pivotal support on the shaft 50. A spring (not shown) is provided for biasing the movement of the pawl 56Lin a clockwise direction as viewed in Figure 6. A roller 58 is mounted on the lower end of lever 57 for actuating engagement by cams 59 and 60 adjustably supported on a rail 61 extending underneath the carriage 21. As, the, carriage 21 moves to the ends of its path of reciprocating movement, the cams 59 and 60 engage the roller 58 and pivot the lever 57 to operate the ratchet wheel 55. In this manner, the ratchet wheel 55 is oscillated through a small angle at each reciprocation of the carriage 21, and the shaft 50 is thus rotated through a small angle upon the completion of each cycle of reciprocation of the carriage 21. The rotation of the shaft 50 by the ratchet wheel 55 in this manner is effective through the nut 42 to move the carriage 2t forwardly a small amount for each cycle of reciprocation of the carriage 21. The forward movement of the carriage 20 determines the depth of grinding cut taken by the grinding Wheel 9 upon each reciprocation thereof.

Movement of the carriage 21) relative to the reciprocating carriage 21 is under the control of limit switches 66, 67 and 68 which are mounted on the carriage 21 and have operating levers or buttons in the path of movement of the carriage 26. The limit switches 66, 67 and 68 constitute part of a control system to be referred to for the carriage drive motor 46 and have adjustable mountings (not shown) by which their positions on the carriage 21 may be adjusted. The position of the limit switch 68 controls the retracted position of the carriage 20, the position of the limit switch 67 controls the depth of the cut taken by the grinding wheel 9, and the position of the limit switch 66 controls the position at which the forward movement of the carriage 20 in a step-by-step manner is placed under the action of the ratchet wheel 55 and operating lever 57.

The limit switches 66, 67 and 68 and the control system of which they form a part are shown diagrammatically in Figure 7. To start the apparatus, a manual push button switch 70 is closed momentarily to energize a relay coil 71. Energization of relay coil 71 closes a holding contact 72 and control contact 48 (Figure 8) to establish an energizing circuit for drive motor 46. Operation of the drive motor 46 by closure of the contact 48 rotates nut 42 in a direction to move the motor 17 and grinding wheel 9 forwardly at a relatively high rate of speed. As the grinding wheel 9 moves to a position in which its end face 15 is about to engage the end of the rail 1, carriage 20 engages and closes limit switch 66. Closure of limit switch 66 energizes relay coil 73 which in turn opens relay contact 74. Opening of contact 74 de-energizes relay coil 71 and contact 48 then opens to de-energize the drive motor 46 for the carriage 20. The relatively fast forward movement of the carriage 20 is thus discontinued by de-energization of the motor 46. However, stopping of the motor 46 does not discontinue forward movement of the grinding wheel 9 since its reciprocation by the carriage 21 is effective through the ratchet wheel 55 to continue the forward movement of the grinding wheel, but this final forward movement is at a relatively slow speed which takes place in a step-bystep manner and by small increments of movement which occur at the end of each cycleof reciprocating move ment of the carriage 21 as explained above.

Upon movement of the grinding wheel 9 a predetermined distance beyond the position in which the end of the rail was stopped by engagement with the stop 7, limit switch 67 is closed to energize relay coil 75. Energization of relay coil 75 closes holding contacts 76 and motor contacts 49 (Figure 8) for drive motor 46. The motor 46 then operates in a reverse direction to return the carriage 20 to its initial or retracted position. As the carriage 20 moves into its retracted position, it engages and closes limit switch 68 to energize relay coil 77. Energization of relay coil 77 opens its relay contacts 78 to deenergize relay coil 75 and thus cause motor contacts 49 to open and stop operation of the motor 46. The limit switches 66, 67 and 68 of course have their movements respectively biased by spring (not shown) to open position so that they open automatically after the runner 23 moves out of engagement therewith.

Fromthe foregoing, it will be apparent that the carnage 20 is stopped in its retracted position by its operation of the limit switch 68 and, after removal of the rail from the drill press 2, the apparatus is in condition for grinding and drilling the end of another rail. In operation, the rail stop 7 is placed in the path of movement of a rail over the conveyor rollers 3 by pivoting the block 8 to its vertical position shown in Figures 1 and 5. When forward movement of a rail is stopped by engagement with the stop 7, the clamp 5 is actuated to secure it against movement out of the predetermined position in which it was stopped. Operation of the drills 4 to drill the end of the rail is then effected by the usual conventional controls (not shown), and such controls may be conveniently employed to simultaneously start the pump (not shown) which supplies fluid pressure to the motor 30 for reciprocating the grinding wheel carriage 21 and for closing the push button switch 70. Closure of the switch 70 either in this manner or by a separate manual operation will be effective to move the grinding wheel carriage 20 forwardly toward the end of the rail for grinding and removing any off-square condition therein.

Attention is particularly directed to the fact that the depth of grinding cut taken by the wheel 9 can be regulated by adjusting either the position of the limit switch 67 or the position of the stop 7. Adjusting the position of the stop 7 will vary the position in which the end of the rail is stopped relative to the forward movement of the grinding wheel as determined by the position of the limit switch 67. Adjusting the position of the limit switch 67 to the right or left as viewed in Figure 1 will vary the extent of forward movement permitted the grinding wheel 9 and thus have the same effect on its depth of grinding out.

Since closure of push button switch 70 renders the grinder automatically effective to square the end of a rail, it will be apparent that the rail grinding and squaring operation is accomplished during the same interval of time required for drilling and without attention on the part of an operator. The apparatus required is relatively inexpensive and eliminates the rail handling operations previously required as an incident to manual grinding. In addition, a more accurate grinding operation is had than has been possible under conventional manual grinding operations.

While one embodiment of our invention has been shown and described it will be apparent that other adaptations and modifications may be made Without departing from the scope of the following claims.

We claim:

1. An apparatus for squaring railroad rail ends while being drilled by a conventional rail drill press comprising a conveyor for delivering the rail endways to said drill press, a stop in the path of movement of said rail over said conveyor for engaging an end thereof and stopping it in a predetermined position, a clamp for clamping said rail on said conveyor against movement out of said predetermined position, a carriage mounted for rectilinear reciprocating movement over a path perpendicular to a rail engaged by said clamp and adjacent one end thereof, a rotating grinding wheel, a slide mounting said grinding wheel on said carriage for movement transversely with respect to its path of reciprocating movement, means for reciprocating said carriage to move said grinding wheel over said adjacent rail end to perform a grinding operation thereon, means mounting said stop for movement out of engagement with said rail end and out of the path of reciprocating movement of said grinding wheel, and means for moving saidslide relative to said carriage to move said wheel toward said adjacent rail end and thereby regulate the depth of grinding cut made by said wheel on said adjacent end.

2. An apparatus for squaring railroad rail ends comprising a conveyor having a plurality of parallel rolls for conveying a rail endways thereover and in a direction transversely of the axes of said rolls, a'carriage mounted for reciprocating movement over a rectilinear path par allel to the axes of said rolls, a stop in the path of move ment of said rail over said conveyor for engaging and end thereof and stopping it in a predetermined position with the rail extending normal to said path and the end thereof engaged by said stop being positioned adjacent said carriage, means for retaining said rail on said conveyor against movement out of said predetermined position, a grinding wheel mounted on said carriage with its axis ex tending transversely of said rectilinear path, means for reciprocating said carriage to move the axial end face of said grinding Wheel over said rail end to perform a grinding operation thereon, and means mounting said stop for movement out of engagement with said rail end and out of the path of reciprocating movement of said grinding wheel.

3. An apparatus for squaring railroad rail ends comprising a conveyor having a plurality of parallel rolls for conveying a rail endways thereover and in a direction transversely of the axes of said rolls, a carriage mounted for reciprocating movement over a rectilinear path parallel to the axes of said rolls, a stop in the path of movement of said rail over said conveyor for engaging an end thereof and stopping it in a predetermined position with the rail extending normal to said path and the end thereof engaged by said stop being positioned adjacent said carriage, a clamp for holding said rail on said conveyor against movement out of said predetermined position, a grinding wheel mounted on said carriage with its axis extending transversely of said rectilinear path, means for reciprocating said carriage to move the axial end face of said grinding wheel over said rail end to perform a grinding operation thereon, and means mounting said stop for movement out of engagement with said rail end and out of the path of grinding wheel movement by said carriage.

4. An apparatus as defined in claim 3 characterized by the provision of a slide mounting said grinding wheel on said carriage for movement transversely with respect to its path of reciprocating movement, said slide normally occupying a retracted position on said carriage in'which said grinding wheel is ineffective to grind said rail and upon reciprocation of said carriage, and means for moving said slide and thereby said grinding wheel from said retracted position to a predetermined position relative to said adjacent rail end and thereby grind and square said end and for thereafter returning said slide to said retracted position.

5. An apparatus as defined in claim 4 characterized by said moving means comprising a reversible drive for moving said slide at a relatively high speed to an intermediate position spaced from said predetermined slide position and in which said grinding wheel is positioned approximately for initial grinding engagement with said adjacent rail end and for returning said slide to said retracted position, a second drive for moving said slide at a slower speed from said intermediate position to its said predetermined position, a first control for rendering said reversible drive operative to move said slide to said intermediate position, means including a second control operated in response to movement of said slide to said intermediate position for discontinuing the operation of said reversible drive and for rendering said second drive effective to continue the movement of said slide to its said predetermined position, means including a third control operated in response to movement of said slide to its said predetermined position for operating said reversible drive to return said slide to its retracted position, and means responsive to movement of said slide to its retracted position for stopping its movement relative to said carriage.

6. An apparatus for square-grinding the ends of railroad rails while being drilled by a conventional rail-end drill press comprising a conveyor having a plurality of parallel rolls for conveying a rail endways thereover to said press and in a direction transversely of the axes of said rolls; a stop in' the path of movement of said rail over said conveyor for engaging an end thereof and stopping it in a predetermined position for drilling by said drill press, a clamp for clamping said rail on said conveyor against movement out of said predetermined position, a carriage mounted for reciprocating movement over a rectilinear path parallel to said conveyor roll axes and normal to thelongitudinal axis of a rail in said predetermined position, a grinding Wheel mounted on said carriage with its axis extending transversely of said rectilinear path, means for reciprocating said carriage to move the axial end face of said grinding wheel over said rail end, and means mounting said stop for movement out of engagement with said rail end and out of the path of reciprocating movement of said grinding Wheel.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS Medart Feb. 21, 1893 Meyers May 17, 1910 Starin June 5, 1917 Wegner Feb. 26, 1924 Einstein et al Feb. 23, 1932 Perazzoli Nov. 8, 1932 Crowey Nov. 10, 1936 Crouch Sept. 5, 1939 Garside Nov. 25, 1941 Schutz July 11, 1944 Dahl et a1 July 13, 1948 

